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Friday 6 November 2020
 The annual Remembrance Sunday parades are a significant event in Havering’s calendar. This borough prides itself on taking every opportunity it can to pay tribute and honour servicemen and women, both past and present.
Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has made it impossible for these events to go ahead in the usual way but no matter what barriers we face we will always pay solemn tribute to the ultimate sacrifice made by so many for the freedoms we enjoy today.
See the article below for more on how you can reflect, remember, and pay your respects from the safety of your own home.
In today's bulletin we have tried to include a lot of information to guide you through the national restrictions that will apply until 2 December. You can also check on any changes to Havering Council's services on our website.
If you need help during this new lockdown don't forget that our Havering Helps package of financial support can, among other things, provide cash grants to help with the cost of replacing white goods in your home or heating your home over the winter months.
The financial measures we put in place at the start of the pandemic has meant that more than £200,000 has been awarded so far, helping those facing economic hardship whether they are in work or seeking it.
If you are vulnerable to COVID-19, over 70, or have an underlying health condition, there are sensible steps you can take to prepare for winter. If you shop online, book in deliveries as far ahead as possible, and make sure prescriptions are up to date and book your flu jab.
If you want to contact me directly, email me. However, please be patient as there may be a delay of a day or two in getting back to you due to the volume of messages I am receiving.
Cllr Damian White
Leader, Havering Council
Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and new national restrictions, Havering Council is encouraging residents to ‘Remember from Home’.
The annual Romford Remembrance Sunday parade and service will not take place this year. Instead, it will be replaced by a pre-recorded, ceremony in partnership with the Romford Royal British Legion, which will go live this Sunday, 8 November.
This virtual ceremony will start at 10.54am on Remembrance Sunday morning and you will be able to watch the video on the Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Despite the changes this year, you can still mark the day appropriately by taking part in a ‘Remember from Home’ activity, whether that is watching the pre-recorded ceremony, pausing for the Two Minute Silence, or by placing a poppy in your window or wreaths on your door.
Our crafts tutor has put together a ‘How to’ make your own poppy wreath tutorial to show you how you can make your own wreath at home.
Please also send us messages including video clips, photos or written messages that we will share throughout the day on Armistice day (Wednesday 11 November) and publish on social media, our website and YouTube.
Videos, messages and photos can be sent to events@havering.gov.uk.
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Due to the COVID-19 pandemic and new national restrictions Havering Council is encouraging residents to ‘Remember from Home’.
The annual Romford Remembrance Sunday parade and service will not take place this year. Instead, it will be replaced by a pre-recorded, ceremony in partnership with the Romford Royal British Legion, which will go live this Sunday, 8 November.
This virtual ceremony will start at 10.54am on Remembrance Sunday morning and you will be able to watch the video on the Council’s Facebook and YouTube channels.
Despite the changes this year, you can still mark the day appropriately by taking part in a ‘Remember from Home’ activity, whether that is watching the pre-recorded ceremony, pausing for the Two Minute Silence, or by placing a poppy in your window or wreaths on your door.
Our crafts tutor has put together a ‘How to’ make your own poppy wreath tutorial to show you how you can make your own wreath at home.
Please also send us messages including video clips, photos or written messages that we will share throughout the day on Armistice day (Wednesday 11 November) and publish on social media, our website and YouTube.
Videos, messages and photos can be sent to events@havering.gov.uk.
From tomorrow (Saturday 7 November), Havering libraries will be operating under a Click and Collect service.
Books can be selected and reserved by phone or by using the My Library App and collected from libraries.
You can download My Library App from Google Play or the App Store, and step-by-step instructions on how to reserve books through the app can be found on our website.
Libraries are not open for normal browsing of books, but you may return items you currently have on loan. The return dates for books already borrowed has been extended until after the end of the national restrictions period and there will be no fines during this time This means there is no need to make a special trip to a library to return a book over the next four weeks.
Please wear a face covering, unless you have an age, health or disability reason for not wearing one, if you do visit our libraries.
Appointments to use computers can also be arranged if it is for essential tasks such as applying for jobs or paying urgent bills.
Orange recycling sacks will remain available to be picked up from libraries.
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Earlier this week the Government announced further guidance for clinically extremely vulnerable people as part of the national restrictions that now apply across England.
The new advice details further precautions those in this group can take such as staying at home unless shopping for food or exercising, and not meeting up with people outside of the household.
Following evidence about groups more likely to be at risk of serious illness from COVID-19, those with chronic kidney disease (stage 5) and those undergoing dialysis, as well as adults with Down’s Syndrome, are also being added to the shielding patient list by the NHS.
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Yesterday the Government announced that the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will be extended until March 2021.
Support for workers through the Self-Employment Income Support Scheme will also be increased.
The third grant under this scheme, covering November to January, will be calculated at 80 per cent of average trading profits, up to a maximum of £7,500.
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If you have symptoms of COVID-19 request a COVID-19 test.
There is significant testing capacity available at our local sites this weekend so do get tested if you have symptoms and book a test online.
Our local COVID-19 test centres are in Romford, South Hornchurch and Harold Hill.
The testing in Romford is delivered by a mobile unit in the rear car park of Havering Town Hall so please do not go into Havering Town Hall or Havering Central Library buildings.
This centre will be open tomorrow (Saturday 7 November) and again on Tuesday (10 November). You can 'drive through' or 'walk through' at this site. Vehicles and pedestrians should enter via Park End Road, Romford RM1 4AU.
If you, or someone you have come into contact with, tests positive for COVID-19, or you have symptoms of coronavirus, you must self-isolate immediately. If you have tested positive, the isolation period is 10 days from when symptoms first started.
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If you have asked someone else to look after your child for more than 28 days, or you are looking after someone else’s child, Havering Council is on hand to give individual support and advice to carers, young people and families.
All parents and private foster carers must notify Havering Council of a private fostering arrangement. If not, they miss out on essential welfare checks for children, plus other support and services.
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If you haven’t already applied, applications for children eligible for free school meals during the October half-term close at 5pm on Friday, 13 November.
Eligible parents can apply for £15 per week, per child to pay for food via the online application form on our website.
Once the application has been made and processed, the money will be paid into their bank account.
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Coronavirus (COVID-19) usually spreads by droplets from coughs, sneezes and speaking. These droplets can also be picked up from surfaces, if you touch a surface and then your face without washing your hands first.
This is why social distancing, regular hand hygiene, and covering coughs and sneezes is so important in controlling the spread of the virus.
Face coverings are largely intended to protect others, not the wearer, against the spread of infection because they cover the nose and mouth, which are the main confirmed sources of transmission of COVID-19.
There are now many places where you must wear a face covering unless you are exempt. This includes in shops and on public transport.
Individuals can be exempt due to age, health or disability - but there is no need for individuals to show written evidence of exemption circumstances. If you fall into this category you may want to wear or show an exemption card or badge to reduce the chance that you will be challenged by, for example, shop staff, COVID-19 wardens or the police.
A template for an exemption card or badge, including an image that can be displayed on a mobile phone, is available on the Government's website.
If you are exempt and choose not to wear a face covering you must keep a two metre distance from other people because not wearing one increases your risk and that of other people.
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Food and drink producers, manufacturers, retailers and suppliers must change labels from 1 January 2021.
This is as a consequence of the end of the transition period after the UK left the EU.
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If you’re visiting our parks this weekend, remember that outdoor playgrounds will remain open but all tennis courts, outdoor gyms and multi-games areas are not to be used under the new restrictions.
Please also follow social distancing guidelines and help us to keep you and others safe while enjoying our parks.
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Temporary traffic lights will be in place in Gooshays Drive, Harold Hill, between 9.30am and 3pm on Tuesday 10 November, and between the same times on Thursday 12 November in Havering Road near the junction with Mashiters Hill. This is for work to be undertaken by Volker Highways.
Volker Highways will also be carrying out work to replace damaged bollards in Petersfield Avenue, Harold Hill on Friday 13 November.
Roadworks in Minster Way, Upminster Bridge, are expected to continue until 20 November.
Work in St Lawrence Road, Upminster, is due to be completed by 13 November.
Roadworks are planned to take place in Cedar Road, Hornchurch, between 23 November and 4 December.
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